Geometry adaptable supported parafoil

Abstract

An exemplary inventive parafoil includes a soft wing and a semi-rigid skeleton. Configured to effect ram-air flight, the soft wing forms adjacent elongate cells directed from leading edge to trailing edge, with respective inflow vents arranged along the leading edge. The semi-rigid skeleton includes one or more cell-compatible support structures, each joined with a cell in furtherance of maintaining the cell's inflated shape and preventing its collapse under adverse aerodynamic circumstances. Each cell-compatible support structure includes a ring-like frame and two parallel rod-like projections attached perpendicular to the ring-like frame at laterally opposite locations. According to each coupling of a cell-compatible support structure with a cell, the ring-like frame is affixed at or near the cell's inflow vent, fitting onto or inside the cell lip; the two rod-like projections extend backward from the ring-like frame along part of the cell length, each integrated with or interiorly contiguous to the cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for aerodynamic implementation, the apparatus comprising:
 a soft parafoil component comprising a plurality of cells, said soft parafoil component having a leading edge and a trailing edge, each said cell having an air inlet at said leading edge and extending from said leading edge in a direction toward said trailing edge; 
 a flexibly firm cell-support structure incorporated in a said cell, said flexibly firm cell-support structure including an annulus and a pair of lateral support rods, said annulus adjoining said air inlet, said lateral support rods protruding from said annulus in proximity to said cell in a said direction toward said trailing edge; 
 the apparatus further comprising at least two trajectory lines, a winching mechanism, and a computer, each said trajectory line connecting said winching mechanism with a said flexibly firm cell-support structure, said computer having computer code characterized by computer program logic for enabling said computer to control said winching mechanism for adjusting the respective lengths of said trajectory lines. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexibly firm cell-support structure prevents collapse of said cell while said cell is undergoing ram-air inflation. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said soft parafoil component is made of a ripstop material. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexibly firm cell-support structure is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, and composite. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexibly firm cell-support structure is a first said flexibly firm cell-support structure, wherein the device further comprises at least a second said flexibly firm cell-support structure, and wherein each said flexibly firm cell-support structure is incorporated in a different said cell. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein, while said cell is undergoing ram-air inflation, each said flexibly firm cell-support structure prevents collapse of said cell in which said flexibly firm cell-support structure is incorporated. 
     
     
       7. A parafoil comprising a textile skin and a semi-rigid support framework, said textile skin configured to comprise an airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and at least two cells, each said cell disposed in an approximately chordwise direction between said leading edge and said trailing edge and having an air intake opening at said leading edge, said semi-rigid support framework including at least one semi-rigid cell support, each said semi-rigid cell support including a semi-rigid ring structure and two semi-rigid rod structures attached to said semi-rigid ring structure, at least one said cell being fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support wherein said semi-rigid ring structure is proximate said air intake opening and wherein each said semi-rigid rod structure extends in said approximately chordwise direction along a portion of said cell, wherein said textile skin is characterized by chord length extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge, and wherein each said semi-rigid rod structure is characterized by a rod length that is in the range between 25% and 75% of said chord length. 
     
     
       8. The parafoil of  claim 7  wherein, during flight of said parafoil, each said semi-rigid cell support reduces risk of failure with respect to ram-air inflation of said cell with which said semi-rigid cell support is fitted. 
     
     
       9. The parafoil of  claim 7  wherein said semi-rigid support framework includes one semi-rigid cell support. 
     
     
       10. The parafoil of  claim 7  wherein at least two consecutive said cells are each fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support, there being no interposed said cell that is not fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support. 
     
     
       11. A parafoil comprising a textile skin and a semi-rigid support framework, said textile skin configured to comprise an airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and at least two cells, each said cell disposed in an approximately chordwise direction between said leading edge and said trailing edge and having an air intake opening at said leading edge, said semi-rigid support framework including at least one semi-rigid cell support, each said semi-rigid cell support including a semi-rigid ring structure and two semi-rigid rod structures attached to said semi-rigid ring structure, at least one said cell being fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support wherein said semi-rigid ring structure is proximate said air intake opening and wherein each said semi-rigid rod structure extends in said approximately chordwise direction along a portion of said cell, wherein said semi-rigid support framework includes at least two semi-rigid channel cell supports, and wherein at least two nonconsecutive said cells are each fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support, there being at least one interposed said cell that is not fitted with a said semi-rigid cell support. 
     
     
       12. The parafoil of  claim 11  wherein each said cell is characterized by an approximately chordwise geometric axis and a vertical geometric plane in which lies said approximately chordwise geometric axis, and wherein each of said two semi-rigid rod structures is situated on opposite sides of said vertical geometric plane. 
     
     
       13. The parafoil of  claim 11  wherein said semi-rigid support framework is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, and composite. 
     
     
       14. The parafoil of  claim 11  wherein at least two said cells are respectively fitted with differently configured said semi-rigid cell supports with respect to at least one of: the shapes of the respective said semi-rigid ring structures; the shapes of the respective said semi-rigid rod structures.